Micronesia Capital

The capital city of the Federated States of Micronesia is Palikir which is located in the northwestern area of Pohnpei Island. Part of the Sokehs municipality, Palikir’s terrain is made up of volcanic mountains surrounded by underwater coral reefs. The city is enclosed by a dense forest. Palikir has been the capital of Micronesia since 1989. After achieving independence in 1979 the local government developed Palikir with the sole purpose of it serving as the country’s administrative and political capital.

According to statistics from 2009 the total population of Palikir is 4,645 people. Most of the city’s residents come from local ethnic groups such as Chuukese, Kosraen, Pohnpeian, and Yapese. The bulk of the population in Palikir lives as farmers or fisherman. The most abundant agricultural products in the region include copra, sweet potatoes, rice, cocoa beans, and breadfruit. Due to poor economic conditions the people of Palikir are forced to rely on financial aid from the United States as per the Compact of Free Association.

Palikir is not known as a popular tourist destination. Most visitors travelling to the island of Pohnpei usually stay in Micronesia’s largest city, Kolonia, which in 2010 had an estimated population of 6,674 residents. Palikir is, however, home to the National Congress Building, College of Micronesia, as well as the Chinese Embassy. Most tourists who do decide to venture to Palikir make the journey in order to explore the region’s lush tropical habitat.

The tropical rainforest climate of Palikir includes a steady range of warm temperatures year round. Typical temperature norms can range from lows of 73F to highs of 88F. The city does, however, have high rates of precipitation with an average of 190 inches of rain falling on the Palikir on an annual basis. The month of May usually sees the most rainfall with an average of 19.4 inches while the driest month is February with 10.4 inches of precipitation.